Hi there, let's be friends :)
I’m on a quest to build a life that I don’t need to run away from but one I can run away with! I believe in doing what I have to do while also pursuing things that spark joy. I strive to never compromise my inner peace and happiness on this virgin voyage I call life because I believe in having it all through manifestations! As for the name of this blog, “Fionism”… I was 19 when I came up with it. The idea of adding “-ism” to my name popped into my head, and I went with it solely because it sounded cool. Now, in hindsight, I like to give it a more meaningful interpretation: that it was a message from the Universe, reminding me to subscribe only to the “-ism” I choose for myself, and no one else’s. To always stay true to myself, be myself, and for myself.
On The Blog

I have been trying to keep three books on rotation lately just to add a little more variety to my day-to-day. It’s my first time doing this because, usually, I'm that person who needs to finish one book before even thinking about starting another. But ever since I heard this suggestion from a YouTuber (either Kalyn Nicholson or Jenn Im—I can’t remember which), I thought I’d give it a go.

Right now, my reading list is pretty diverse. I have 3 books on rotation - a Chinese fantasy novel, The Art of Sun Tzu (ngl, this gets kinda dry at times and it's lengthy), and I just finished The Comfort Book by Matt Haig.

That last one felt like a gentle hug in the form of words. Haig's reflections are simple but powerful reminders of resilience, compassion, and taking life moment by moment. So, I thought I’d share a few of my favourite quotes from The Comfort Book with you all, hoping they bring a bit of light and peace to your day.


♠ If we are distressed about something external, “the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

♠ Things weren’t always one thing or another thing. They were sometimes both.

♠ We are more than can be measured. We are life itself. We aren’t the narrow band of feelings in a single moment. We are the vessel that could contain any feeling. We are the subject in the sentence. We are more than the sum of our achievements. We are more than the feelings we witness. We are the infinity that remains when you subtract them.

♠ Stay for the person you will become.

♠ When we can’t speak, we can write. When we can’t write, we can read. When we can’t read, we can listen. Words are seeds. Language is a way back to life.

♠ Continually looking for the meaning of life is like looking for the meaning of toast. It is sometimes better just to eat the toast.

♠ The sky isn’t more beautiful if you have perfect skin. Music doesn’t sound more interesting if you have a six-pack. Dogs aren’t better company if you’re famous. Pizza tastes good regardless of your job title. The best of life exists beyond the things we are encouraged to crave.

♠ We all come from randomness. We exist out of uncertainty. Out of near impossibility. And yet we exist. So, when you feel the odds are against you it is important to realize that they are never so against you as they were when you didn’t exist.

♠ The flow of life is about accepting things as part of something bigger. Accepting every molecule of water as part of the river.

♠ Scroll your mind…Scroll your consciousness for reasons to be grateful to be you. The only fear of missing out that matters is the fear of missing out on yourself.

♠ Enjoy the present, free from worries. To actually live it the way we imagine…without fretting about what is to come, or without scrolling through Instagram until our thumb falls off. To Live.

♠ Your value has no because. You are the right quantity. You are a full cup. You are worth yourself, and that is always enough.

♠ Ruining the present by worrying about the future is like burning your most treasured possession simply because you might one day lose other possessions that you don’t own yet.

♠ Your self-worth is not found inside the minds of other people.

♠ It’s easy to be surrounded so entirely by a single view that almost anyone without that view becomes alien. But. We can look at the world through more than one lens. If we look at people through the lens of emotion, at the feelings that drive opinions, rather than the opinions themselves.

♠ The most powerful moment in life is when you decide not to be scared anymore.

If you haven’t read The Comfort Book, I can’t recommend it enough, especially if you’re in need of a little solace or a quiet friend in book form. It's the kind of book you can open to any page and find something that speaks to you—something that might help you make sense of the world or just feel a little more at home in it.

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’ve hit a plateau in content creation.

Honestly, ever since I started working full-time, and especially now that writing’s my main gig, I’ve kind of lost that spark for writing just for myself. (I’ll admit, it’s probably just an excuse.)

When I first began sharing my life online, there wasn’t all this talk about cracking the algorithm’s code, defining content pillars, or targeting specific audiences. Maybe those things were there back then, but I was innocently ignorant. The more I learned about "doing it right," the more it started feeling like a checklist—one I had to tick off, weighed down by numbers and ROI. And somewhere along the way, that initial love for writing online just... faded.



In 2012, I started this blog for two reasons: one, I was bored, and two, I couldn’t afford an external hard drive, so I needed somewhere to store my photos. I treated it like an online diary, filling it with pieces of my life. This space always felt like a reflection of who I am—the way I write mirrors how I talk in real life, from my tone and word choice to my (sometimes) opinionated nature. I think I express myself better in writing than in speaking. It’s as if the words just flow more freely when I’m typing than when I’m trying to say them aloud. I started with no real goals other than to capture moments and, maybe, if I was lucky, connect with a few people along the way.


I want to find that feeling again. That pure, innocent intention sparked my journey and, unexpectedly, opened doors to opportunities I never could’ve imagined. I don’t want to confuse the cause-and-effect anymore—I truly believe that life comes full circle, and we should trust the path we’re on. And let’s not forget, when we stay in the "flow," that’s when good things tend to manifest effortlessly.

I think I’m on a journey to find something in life, though I’m not entirely sure what it is just yet. For now, maybe I’ll discover it through mindful documentation—training my eyes to notice the tiniest moments that spark joy, my heart to feel more deeply, and my mind to romanticise the fleeting beauty of life’s everyday encounters. Life is a series of moments that come and go so quickly, and we ourselves are but a brief existence in the grand scheme of things. In the end, all we really have are the words and photos that tell the story of our lives and say, “I lived.”

Sometimes I think about how incredible it would be to flip through my online diary one day, maybe when I’m lying on my deathbed, and smile as I look back on it—thinking, "Ah, this is how it all went." And hopefully, by then, I’ll have no regrets, able to pat myself on the back and say, "You’ve lived well."

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the whole point.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

"You’ve changed." That’s the phrase I’ve probably heard the most since the beginning of this year. At first, I was caught off guard—wondering, "Have I really changed?"

But then I realized—yes, I have, and I’m proud of it. I’m still me; it’s just that I’ve consciously made efforts to shed old habits, limiting beliefs, and behaviours that no longer serve me. To the old Fion, goodbye! I’ve left you in that old quantum reality. The system has been upgraded for good. There’s no turning back once you’ve updated your iOS.


People love to say, "Old habits die hard." But honestly? I disagree. That phrase is often a crutch we use to avoid the discomfort of change. It’s a defence mechanism, a way to justify staying stagnant when deep down, we know change is necessary.

And trust me, I’m not sitting here on a high horse, calling anyone out. This was me too—stuck in patterns I didn’t even realize were holding me back. But over the last few months, I’ve started asking myself tougher questions, confronting (demonic) thoughts I hadn’t wanted to face.

Let’s be real for a second. How many of us spend our days worrying about what others are doing, thinking, or saying? And how often do we pause and reflect on what’s going on inside our own heads? I used to be that person, always speculating about someone else's actions, rather than facing my own inner struggles.

But something shifted this year. I realized that the most important work I can do is within myself. Let me give you some small examples.

On days when I think, "I’m too tired to work out", I’ve started asking myself, "Am I really tired, or am I just going to lay in bed and scroll through Instagram?" Spoiler alert: I’m usually just being lazy. So instead of giving in, I make a deal with myself: "Get up, and just do 10 minutes." Usually, once I start, those 10 minutes turn into 20 or 30, because if I’m already committing to washing my hair afterwards, I might as well make it worth it!

Another big revelation for me this year was learning to stop interpreting other people’s actions as personal attacks. You know how we do that? Someone doesn’t text you back for a few days, and immediately, your mind starts spiralling: "She’s ignoring me." or "There she goes again, acting like a bitch!" But here’s the truth—it’s almost never about you. Most people aren’t scheming or plotting against you; they’re just living their lives, caught up in their own stuff.

I used to be that person, assuming the worst and taking things personally. But one day, while I was venting to a friend about someone not responding to me, she asked a question that changed my perspective: “Why do you want to make yourself a victim by default?”

That hit me hard. Why was I so quick to victimize myself? Why did I automatically assume someone was out to hurt me? Why was I so obsessed with envisioning things going wrong instead of rainbows and unicorns? 
Call me delusional, but according to the law of attraction, the more you focus on something, the more likely it is to manifest in your life—and I definitely do not want to subscribe to that service!

From that moment on, I made a commitment to question my own thoughts more carefully. When someone doesn’t reply to my message, instead of jumping to conclusions, I now tell myself, “Maybe they’re busy, or they just forgot. I’ll remind them later if it’s important.” It’s a small insignificant shift, but it’s been life-changing.

If someone really does act rudely or suddenly becomes hostile towards me, the first thing I do is check whether I might have said or done something hurtful to them (this isn't self-blame, but I want to hold myself accountable if I’ve unintentionally caused harm). If the answer is no, that's enough for me. They can act however they want, and it has nothing to do with me. I can choose how I perceive it—it’s a choice, and the power lies within me, not in them or their actions.

Here’s a little formula I’ve started living by—and I’m sharing it with you, not as advice but as something that works for me: If it doesn’t cost me money, physical harm, or detrimental betrayal, I’m not going to let it ruin my day. Period.

Think about it. How often do we blow things out of proportion that really don’t matter? Getting angry or upset over small things (like someone cutting in line at the grocery store or in a public restroom) is like handing over your peace of mind on a silver platter. Not to mention, victimizing yourself is definitely not cute (or healthy). Also, because I'm generally lazy, if something can help me be more chill, then I’ll take double of that!

This whole process has been about protecting my energy. And if that means people think I’ve changed—well, I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m no longer interested in holding onto things that drain me, whether it’s toxic thoughts, friendships, or even my own self-limiting beliefs.

So if you’re on a similar journey, know that you’re not alone. We all struggle with habits that are hard to break, but the first step is simply questioning yourself. I hope you recognize the fine line between condemning or blaming yourself and simply examining yourself to grow. When you do explore the depths of your mind (with a GPS in hand, so you don’t get lost in spiralling negative thoughts), the answers might surprise you.

PS: I'm still a work in progress too, but it doesn’t hurt to share this tip so we can keep each other company along the journey :)

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

I picked up and read this book sometime last year, not knowing its genre or context. I didn’t even bother to look it up. The reason I started reading it was solely because of its name. Evidently, I love to eat tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes) – that reason alone was enough for me.

I wasn’t ready for it to be a book on psychology.

This book, written by a Korean woman named Baek Hee, explores her struggles through life, caught in a cycle of ups, downs, and mood swings. At some point, she finally decides enough is enough and plucks up the courage to take herself off to therapy. The book consists of a series of chapters, with lengthy dialogues between the writer and her therapist.

While looking through Goodreads for reviews of this book, I saw many people complaining about it being harsh and mean towards people with mental health issues, and how many issues were glossed over lightly.

I agree, but I also disagree.

I think this book is not something you read to relax or just for some light, comforting “chicken soup” for the soul. You won’t grasp its essence unless you take the time to dive deep into the conversations between Baek Hee and her therapist, while applying the lessons to your own life, stories, and experiences. It’s a book of self-reflection rather than one you read solely from a third-person point of view. Here are the useful points I picked out from the book, which made me start being aware of how I was looking at and analyzing certain circumstances.

I personally think this is the whole reason for reading a book. There are no badly written books or poorly told stories, to be honest – only less effective methods of conveying a message or crafting a narrative. There is a lesson in everything, including a so-called bad book or bad story.

Try viewing this book as a set of suggestions, rather than a do-it-this-way-or-you-will-be-forever-depressed guide. It calls for building the practice of mindfulness.



♠ If we have a habit of judging people from a simplistic perspective, that perspective will eventually turn against ourselves.

♠ I think you tend to focus too much on your ideals and pressure yourself by thinking, I have to be this kind of person! Even when those ideals are, in fact, taken from someone else and not from your own thoughts and experiences. 

♠ When you’re having a hard time, it’s natural to feel like you’re having the hardest time in the world. And it’s not selfish to feel that way.

♠ Your perception of reality is so polarised and extreme. you’re only able to see within the framework of ‘Everything about us is the same’ or ‘Everything about us is different.’

♠ You should try to stop yourself from reflexively falling back on thinking patterns you normally default to.

♠ I don’t think it’s a problem that needs fixing. It’s all a matter of how you see yourself.

♠ You’ve got to stop falling into the binary trap of thinking you’re either all-ordinary or all-special. ‘Good’ and ‘bad’ are not the only ways we think in black and white.

♠ Your emptiness and fear are all mixed up, and you’re asking for help to defend yourself. But if you depend on another person for help, it’ll satisfy you only for a moment, and you may not be able to stand on your own two feet later.

♠ Do you think every behaviour falls into a category of, ‘They did this because they hate me’ or ‘They did this because they like me’? The whole point of not liking your friend’s behaviour means you don’t like her behaviour, not your friend as a person. But right now, you keep interpreting every behaviour exhibited by your friend as rejection. Your mind immediately goes to the most extreme explanation instead of stopping to think of the many other reasons your friend could be doing what she’s doing. You keep applying these extreme standards to others. In effect, it’s your own thoughts that are torturing you. Learn to differentiate the parts from the whole. Just because you like one thing about a person, you don’t need to like everything about them. And just because you don’t like one thing about a person, it doesn’t mean the person as a whole isn’t worth your time. I think you should get in the habit of thinking differently.

♠ Love comes in different shapes, and I shouldn’t judge someone else’s love by my own standards.

♠ Many people think they’re the foremost authority on themselves, but you should be more sceptical. You’ve got to ask yourself, ‘Do I really know myself well?’

♠ Your very real problem is that you bring this same judgmental attitude on yourself.

♠ No one was looking down on me except myself.

♠ I feel like I talk about the same problem every time. And you always give me the same answers. I don’t change myself, which is why the same problems keep coming up.

♠ Your perspective of yourself is so narrow and self-critical that you’re unable to see things from a wider perspective, and so you goad yourself into choosing just one angle, which is the easiest way out.

♠ I hope you will listen to a certain overlooked and different voice within you. Because the human heart, even when it wants to die, quite often wants at the same time to eat some tteokbokki, too.

♠ Meeting someone who moves your heart, writing something until it moves the hearts of others, listening to music and watching movies that depict love–I want to always be motivated by love. If pure rationality keeps forcing itself into the spaces in between, I shall lose the shine and comfort of my life–which is why I want to be an emotionally bright person, even if it means becoming impoverished in terms of rationality. I want to hold hands and march with those who feel similarly to me.

♠ I often look for books that are like medicine, that fit my situation and my thoughts, and I read them over and over again until the pages are tattered, underlining everything, and still the book will have something to give me. Books never tire of me. And in time they present a solution, quietly waiting until I am fully healed. That’s one of the nicest things about books.

Saturday, August 3, 2024

For the past few months, I have been so immersed in the world of fantasy Chinese novels. I had been reading a few back-to-back, and that’s when I realized I needed to read some non-fiction to balance things out. When I stumbled upon Zygmunt Bauman's "Work, Consumerism and the New Poor" on Xiao Hong Shu (Little Red Book, a Chinese social media platform similar to Pinterest), I thought I'd give it a try since it reminded me of my Economics assignment back then.


 
Bauman dives into how consumerism has overshadowed the old-school work ethic, with his historical and philosophical take on it. This book is not an easy read because it can feel a bit dry and like you're reading someone’s lengthy thesis.

Bauman begins by discussing how the work ethic became significant during industrialization. In the past, people valued their "workmanship" and preferred leisure over unnecessary labour. But industrial times demanded a different attitude. Factory owners wanted to make workers dependent on them, and with a little help from the government, they pushed for a complete societal shift. Artisans were left out in the cold as factory work became the new norm.

Fast forward to today, and we've shifted from a society of producers to a society of consumers. Satisfaction isn't the goal anymore; it's all about the thrill of wanting more, sugar-coated as a motivation to hustle harder. In the past, your class determined your identity, but now, you build it yourself through the choices you make in the marketplace. More choices mean more freedom, right? Well, not exactly. This so-called freedom is just another illusion created by market forces.

Living in a consumer society means we detest having our choices limited, so we gravitate towards deregulation and neoliberalism. Work, devoid of any real joy, loses its value; and come payday, you’d simply spend your hard-earned money on unnecessary expenditures. Does that imply that the time and effort invested in work are all in vain? To fill the jobs nobody wants, we recreate a survival scenario, but this time, there's no noble work ethic to cling to. Instead, the poor are viewed as inadequate consumers. Society no longer feels the need to uplift them but rather blames them for their situation, branding them as an irredeemable "underclass."

Bauman’s empathy for the poor shines through. They're often labelled as lazy, but he shows they're actually victims of a broken system. Work ethics, Bauman argues, were invented to force people into factory jobs and now serve to blame the unemployed for their plight. With globalization, local governments can't do much to help since capital moves freely across borders. Modern society deals with the poor by marginalizing, criminalizing, and segregating them. They're not seen as potential workers anymore but as failures in the consumer game.

One of Bauman’s more optimistic ideas is universal basic income, something C. Offe also talks about. This would shift our focus from employment to basic rights and protections. But even Bauman knows this solution is a bit too optimistic, given the power of global capital.

Reading "Work, Consumerism and the New Poor" is quite a rollercoaster. Bauman sometimes suggests that work ethics were a grand conspiracy, which seems like a stretch without solid proof. Personally, I'd prefer to see it as a collective societal belief disguised as the norm, rather than a brainwashing tactic used by capitalists. Perhaps to some extent it is, but ultimately, it comes down to whether individuals would simply accept and believe in this belief.

Given that this book was written almost 20 years ago, some parts feel dated, but its message still resonates strongly. Consumerism has only sunk its claws deeper into our lives. Consider this: from housing to healthcare to our daily routines, systems are designed to extract every last penny from us. We're essentially primed to compete for the top, leveraging our education and careers, yet often find ourselves ensnared by rising costs. Consequently, our lives become a ceaseless pursuit of better homes, better cars, and so forth. It's a cycle of chasing bigger, better, and higher price tags, often with more debts piled on.

This book makes it clear that our societal structures are choices, even when they feel like inescapable traps. So it comes full circle: when it's all about choices, what are you choosing for yourself? Because nobody is pointing a gun at your head. There is no black or white, good or wrong within this equation. It’s about where one’s personal values lie. Having previously worked in the retail banking industry for two years has definitely taught me a valuable lesson on this— one’s bank accounts and transactions often speak volumes more about them than the words that come out of their mouths.

"Work, Consumerism and the New Poor" peels back the layers of consumer society, exposing the harsh realities beneath. Bauman's insights into consumerism and the marginalization of the poor are still relevant, pushing us to rethink what we value and how we define success. "Work, Consumerism and the New Poor" peels back the layers of consumer society, exposing the harsh realities beneath. Bauman's insights into consumerism and the marginalization of the poor remain relevant, urging us to reconsider what we value and how we define success.

I wouldn’t recommend this book as a must-read for everyone because, as mentioned, getting through the entire book consumed a lot of focused energy from my end due to its lengthy narrations. Unless you are truly interested in the history of economics, I think a practical takeaway I could share with anyone (even those who are not that financially savvy) is to be conscious of why and where you are spending your money. Remember, there is no right or wrong judgment here; it’s all about your choices and how aware you are of your true intentions behind them. Simple and straightforward.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

My Dearest Pippy and Pipsy,


 
As I sit down to pen this heartfelt note, I find myself overwhelmed with a mixed bunch of feelings. Now that you both are no longer (physically) here, I can’t help but reminisce about the day when I brought you two tiny furballs back from the pet shop on the 7th of October 2021.

From the moment you both scampered into my life, a burst of cuteness and warmth enveloped my heart every single day, without fail, even during the moments when you drove me insane.

Since day one, I couldn't resist sharing daily snippets of your adorable antics on social media. Little did I know that your charm would ripple out, influencing friends and followers to embark on their own journeys of hamster companionship. Just like that, you girls indirectly gave other hamsters a home that they could call their own too!

Many have questioned my choice, wondering if the frequent heartbreaks accompanying the short lifespan of hamsters would deter me from welcoming another furry friend into our home. To them, I say this: the essence of life, be it for humans or hamsters, lies in the inevitable journey towards the final stage – death. It's a bittersweet reality illustrated beautifully in The Little Prince, where the process of "taming" transcends the fear of bidding goodbyes. Yes, tears may fall, and a few days of sadness may linger in the wake of farewells, but these are the small prices we pay for the immeasurable joy of giving a furry ball a home.

Although you girls might have had a short time with me, your little pawprints will always be on my heart, forever.

PS: Please stop fighting one another in heaven!

Also, may I introduce the new kiddo - Fibo. 





Tuesday, March 5, 2024

那天,我去了朋友打工的咖啡馆,点了一杯冰美式,坐在舒适的角落,与许久未见的朋友聊起了近来的生活。

聊着聊着,不知怎么,我们的话题转向了【成年人的快乐】。




 “成年人的世界里很难真正感受到快乐。”朋友用略带无奈的语气说道。

我曾经也深有同感,毕业后步入社会,面对琐碎的工作和生活压力,我也觉得快乐仿佛渐行渐远。然而,我后来发觉,将自己困在这样的念想里,并不会比现在更快乐。

或许,应该换个活法:“不能重来的人生,尽量且尽情地快乐吧!”

每个人都过得辛苦,特别是成年后,面对的责任、选择和挑战接踵而至。只是有的人掩饰得很好罢了。但这并不意味着我们就不能感受到快乐。每个人都有不同的人生轨迹,有的人事业有成,有的人家庭美满,有的人追求梦想的路上风生水起。快乐的定义因人而异,我们无需拿别人的标准来衡量自己。当你用别人的尺子来批判自己,那注定是怨气满满,左看右看都觉得全世界只有自己过得最悲惨。

(当然以上说的是我曾经犯的错,所以我知道!)

快乐不在于一下子实现所有的梦想,而是在于途中的点滴欢愉。在忙碌和挫折中,懂得给自己一些喘息的空间,对自己温柔一些,对身边的人多一些理解和包容,尝试着用不同的视角去看待生活。每一个瞬间的转变都可能让我们离感恩、释怀和幸福更近一些嘛!

人生如梦,转瞬即逝。生命是一场不断前行的旅程,我们在这个广袤的世界里穿行。我们无法重来,也无法预知未来。每一刻都是唯一的,每一段经历都是独特的。也许最终我们会发现,快乐其实一直都在,只是之前的格局让我们错过了去感受它的机会而已。

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

人生是一段充满意外和变化的旅程,我们经历着不断的成长和转变。 

说来也奇怪,小时候的我是一个极为理性的人。从来不会因为任何事情而感动落泪(我妈妈甚至一度调侃我铁石心肠)。但大概是在大学时期,我突然变得感性了。变得容易感动,容易落泪,也变得比较敏感。这种转变让我重新审视了生活的意义和价值。


或许是随着岁月的流逝,我渐渐发现,纯粹的理性并不能完全解决所有问题。有些事情并不总是那么容易用逻辑来解释,有时候感性的一面才能更好地理解和体验。在与他人相处时,感性地表达能让人更加亲近,也能增进彼此之间的理解和信任。

Monday, July 24, 2023

我一直以来都是挺容易内耗的一个人。

焦虑、压力和迷茫时常困扰着我,有时只是短暂的几个小时,有时则可能持续数周之久。这种内耗的根源往往源自于他人的一两句话,让我开始怀疑自己,甚至否定了自我存在的意义。

Saturday, July 22, 2023

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